The only Minnesota score came after Miami's Ricky Williams turned the ball over deep in his own territory that allowed Adrian Peterson to make this game closer than it deserved to be.

Minnesota's problems run deeper than Favre. They began with the loss of Favre's favourite receiver Sidney Rice in pre-season -- and that was simply emphasized yesterday as when Visanthe Shiancoe dropped a ball that hit him in the chest on a do-or-die last drive.

The Vikings' hopes died on a final drive that saw three incompletions. Where last season similar situations saw Favre pull out wins, such as one against the 49ers, this year the magic is gone.

It ended a day in which he threw for 225 yards but there was never any flow to the passing game. Percy Harvin caught five passes to open the game and seems recovered from his migraines; it's just that now the rest of the passing game is giving Favre headaches.

He was intercepted three times. The team has one touchdown in two games and Favre also fumbled once. Last year, Favre was intercepted at home only twice ALL season.

Where last season fortune smiled on the Vikings, it now seems to have deserted Favre. Every gamble fails. The opening drive stalled on the 27 when Favre had a pass knocked down on fourth down.

Normally Ryan Longwell should've been in the game to kick the field goal. But head coach Brian Childress is making calls like Favre is throwing balls. They're both coming up short. This looks like a team desperate to make something good happen; and the harder they try the worse the results.

Down 7-0 he was intercepted at the Miami goal line.

Favre, then throwing from his own end zone, had the ball stripped by Cameron Wake and Koa Misi fell on it for a TD and a 14-0 Miami lead.

Fumbles by Miami running backs Ronnie Brown and Williams kept the Vikings close but Favre responded by hitting Jason Allen with another interception. For the first time in his career, Favre is acting his age. Not a good sign.

Much more of this and Minnesota might not even make the playoffs.

Both Green Bay and Chicago are 2-0 and looking good. The Vikings look disorganized, confused, which is understandable because at 0-and-2 they suddenly are just as close to the Super Bowl as the Detroit Lions.

Actually there is a difference. At least the Lions have an offence.

And, it's not just Favre. The Dolphins beat them on both the offensive and defensive line.

Game on the line: Peterson was stopped on a hard hit by Karlos Dansby from the one with 2:16 remaining to turn the ball over on downs. Jared Allen, normally a defensive superpest, was kept off Chad Henne's back all afternoon by Jake Long.

The only thing the Vikings offence had working was the running game with Peterson.

There's all kinds of speculation that the Vikings are front-runners to acquire San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson. So far this season, nothing has fallen the Vikings' way and completing that deal may be the Vikings' -- and Favre's -- only salvation.

The Vikings have time to recover. There is a long way to go this season. But for Minnesota fans it can't be very inspiring to watch your team come out of the blocks and run face first into a Johnny on the Spot.